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A Firelich is a fiery undead creature from the Spelljammer campaign setting.[1]

Overview[]

A firelich is created as a result of a powerful spellcaster, who had already prepared for their eventual transformation into lichdom, being caught in a catastrophic explosion in the phlogiston, either through ignorance (such as casting a fire spell) or spell failure. The resulting energy, combined with the lich-preparation spells, transforms their bodies into living fireballs of undeath, and ejects them through a "rip" in the phlogiston into wildspace, where they race through the void, screaming in eternal pain and looking for something to collide with, as a way to extinguish the flames.[1][2]

Description[]

A firelich resembles a comet made of yellow, orange, and red flames. The “head” of the comet has a skull-like face with a mouth locked in a perpetual scream. The “head” measures 6-feet in diameter, with a fiery tail 18-feet long trailing behind it. It has no limbs.[1]

Personality[]

A firelich is driven by its overwhelming need to end its miserable existence, and as such goes out of its way to initiate confrontation. Its blazing eyes are always on the lookout for spelljamming vessels, in the same way a person on fire would look for water or a blanket.[1][2]

Combat[]

The first sign that a firelich is in the area is its luminous, fiery appearance, followed by an ear-splitting shriek of pain, causing some spectators to react with fright (as per the fear spell).

The firelich attacks by plunging headlong into a target ship in a screaming dive. Upon impact, the firelich explodes in a 10-foot diameter ball of fire. If the ship's deck or hull fails under the impact, the firelich will punch straight through into the body of the ship, creating an 8 to 18-foot diameter hole. The firelich will continue its dive, smashing through any intermediate decks until it hits the other side of the ship's hull. If the hull fails, the firelich will punch through, creating a second hole, having flown straight through the ship. Having survived, the firelich will shriek in frustration, and will fly off into the depth of wildspace.

There is a chance that the fireliches' flaming body will set any flammable materials on fire, creating a wall of fire (as per the spell) on the affected decks. The ship will also suffer the effects of a critical hit.

If a ship's deck or hull survives the firelich's attack, the firelich will explode in a massive 20-foot diameter ball of fire. Within a minute of the explosion, the firelich's lifeforce will reform its comet-like body outside the ship, and the entity will flee frantically through space, screaming in renewed frustration.

A firelich is an undead creature and can be turned as a Special undead.

Although a firelich is technically a lich, it cannot cast any of the spells it knew in its previous existence. It hasn't got any limbs for the somatic components of a spell, and it cannot pronounce the verbal portion.[1]

Society[]

Fireliches are solitary, shunning even those who share their suffering. Due to their pain and probable madness, fireliches are not communicative, though some observers have managed to coax a few fireliches to reveal their identities. If a firelich is destroyed, only wisps of smoke remain.[1]

Creating a firelich[]

Only spellcasters who have made preparations to achieve lichdom can become a firelich. It is believed that the energy from the phlogiston explosion, combined with the arcane rituals already completed, tears a temporary rift from the Flow into wildspace. If this is true, the rift must close immediately after the firelich has been ejected into wildspace.[1]

Notable Fireliches[]

  • Manistock was a powerful sorcerer who attempted to become a lich, but was instead transformed into a firelich during a catastrophic explosion in the phlogiston caused by a rival.[2]

Signature Spelljammers[]

None: A fireliches' ability to spelljam is innate, allowing it to achieve a ship's rating (SR) of 4. This ability cannot be harnessed by others.

According to a spacefarer's tale making the rounds in wildspace, a group of pirates captured a firelich and tried to connect it to their spelljamming helm. The firelich overloaded and exploded, and as the ship burned, the firelich reincorporated and flew off, screaming.[1]

Appendix[]

External Links[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 John Terra, MC9 Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Firelich entry
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Nicky Rea and Wes Nicholson, SJR8 Space Lairs, 1993, (TSR Inc.), A Lair of Flame chapter, pages 41-42
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